An outline of the ways that digital rights and public health are connected

In this report, Access Now lists the elements of digital rights that may be under threat around the world during the coronavirus outbreak, due to actions some governments are taking that include surveillance, censorship, and privacy violations.

"Law, not ethics, should govern the processing of health data. We must demand more from authorities as the role of big data and technology in humanitarian response matures.”

The report describes how facial recognition technology, poorly regulated apps, and online disinformation are being used as the disease spreads, while pointing out the ways in which technology can be harnessed for good.

By attending to the key digital rights issues that we outline in this post, responders from the front lines to governments and international institutions can better understand the risks and find a more successful pathway to respond